Rail clamp and holder.



P. MAYDA.

RAIL CLAMP AND HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. I917.

1 ,238, 1 7 1 Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

P. MAYDA.

RA'H. CLAMP AND HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. 1917.

Patented Aug, 28, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Inventor Attorneys OFFICE.

PAUL MAYDA, 0F RANCHESTEE, WYOMING.

RAIL CLAMP AND HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 28, 1917. Serial No. 171,507.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PAUL MAYDA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ranchester, in the county of Sheridan and State of lVyoming, have invented a new and useful Rail Clamp and Holder, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to rail clamps and holders, and is particularly an improvement over the rail clamp and holder disclosed in my Patent No. 1,173,204, granted February 29, 1916.

It is the object of the invention to provide a device of the character indicated which is improved generally in its construction and details, to enhance the utility and efficiency thereof, whereby the device will properly serve its office of preventing the excessive or dangerous sliding movement of the rail upon the ties, especially when the rail is in clined or otherwise subjected to strains tending to displace the same longitudinally.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an end view of the device as applied to the rail.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectlon taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 41 is a bottom plan view.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a pair of companion or cooperating sections 1 and 2 to snugly underl1e the rails R and of equal length. Said sections are readily cast or forged from suitable metal, and the section 1 is relatively wide while the section 2 is relatively narrow, the upper surfaces of said sections being fiat and flush when they are assembled. The remote or outer edges of the sections 1 and 2 are provided with the respective upper hooks 3 and 4 projecting toward one another and engageable over the edges of the base of the rail.

The adjacent or inner edges of the sections 1 and 2 are provided with interengageable portions or means 5 arranged to lock together by a relative longitudinal movement of the sections, and whereby the sec tions will be drawn together to clamp the base of the rail, and to prevent the lateral separation of the sections. Thus, the lower surface of the section 1 is provided with a longitudinal groove 6 extending from end to end adjacent the inner edge of said section, and forming a depending flange or tongue 7 along said edge. The section 2 is provided in its upper surface with a longitudinal groove 8 along its inner edge for receiving the tongue 7, and said groove 8 forms an upstanding tongue or flange 9 engageable by a longitudinal movement in the groove 6. The rooves and tongues are arranged at a slight angle with respect to the rail and the obliquity of the interengag- Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

ing portions 5 serves to cause the sections to be drawn toward one another as they are interengaged by a relative longitudinal movement. The tongues and grooves are of dovetailed cross section, due to the inclination of the contacting surfaces of the two tongues 7 and 9, as seen in Fig. 1, whereby to provide a more effective lock between the sections.

The widest section 1 is provided with a pair of depending oblique flanges or ribs 10 connected at one end by a web or abutment 11 which is adapted to abut against the side of one tie of the track, said abutment being braced by the ribs 10. The sections 1 and 2 are reinforced by means of transverse ribs 13 and 12, respectively, with which said sections are formed. The ribs extend around the hooks from the tips thereof to the adjacent portions of the two sections. The ribs 13 and 10 are in intersecting relation, as seen in Fig. 4:, whereby the section 1 will be strong and not apt to break under the strains imposed thereon. The hook et is formed at the smaller end of the section 2 and integral with the respective ribs 12 with a driving portion 14: adapted to receive the blows of a sledge hammer or other driving implement, whereby when the section 1 is in place against the rail base and tie, the section 2 can be driven forcibly into place.

A longitudinal bar 15 is fitted snugly posed between the webs 16 with its ends abutting thereagainst, and the outer edge of the bar 15 has ratchet teeth 17 interengaging with ratchet teeth 18 with which the hook 3 is provided at the angle thereof. The inner edge of the bar 15 has ratchet teeth 19 for biting the respective edge of the rail base. The teeth 19 as well as the teeth 18 face in a direction to oppose the longitudinal movement of the rail R in the direction of the arrow 33 in Fig. 2, while the teeth 17 face in the opposite direction to oppose and engage the teeth 18, whereby to resist the longitudinal movement of the bar 15 relative to the section 1.

As a means for holding the bar 15 within the hook 3, bores 20 are drilled in the ends of the section 1, webs 16 and bar 15, and pins 21 are embedded in the bores 20 and are provided with threaded heads 22 screwed within the ends of said bores to hold the pins in place.

The upper surface of the section 1 is pro vided above the space between the ribs 10 with a longitudinal channel 23, the end portions 241 of which are reduced both in width and depth, and a longitudinal bar or strip 25 is seated in said channel, and is composed of hard metal, the same as the bar 15. The section 1 is formed with ratchet teeth 26 at the sides of the channel 23 facing in the same direction as the teeth 19, and the side edges of the strip 25 have oppositely facing ratchet teeth 27 interengaging with the ratchet teeth 26, to resist the longitudinal movement of the strip 25 in the direction of the arrow 33. The end portions of the strip 25 are reduced, as at 28, to fit in the reduced ends 2% of the channel, thereby to assist in holding the strip 25 snugly in place. The strip 25 has upstanding teeth or spurs 29 for engaging or biting into the lower surface of the rail base.

As a means for holding the strip 25 within the channel 23, somewhat similar to the means for holding the bar 15 in place, whereby said strip and bar will be held assembled with the section 1 before and after the device is applied. Bores 30 are drilled into the ends of the section 1 and strip 25, and pins 31 are fitted in said bores and are provided with threaded heads 32 screwed into the ends of the bores. The pins 31 and bores 30 are arranged at the side edges of the strips 25, and there is a pin 31 as well as a pin 21 at each end of the section 1.

In applying the device, the section 1 is first clamped against the rail by a suitable tool, with the abutment 11 bearing against the tie, and the section 2 is then slid longitudinally into engagement with the section 1, and is driven into place, whereby the two sections 1 and 2 are interlocked and caused to tightly clamp or grip the base of the rail. The present device will retain its firm grip upon the rail base. and will effectively resist the longitudinal displacement of the rail R in the direction of the arrow 33 in Fg. 2.

That rib 10 which bears against and slides along the inner edge of the section 2 is provided with a slanting tongue 33 to slide longitudinally into a groove 3% with which said edge of the section 2 is provided.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A rail clamp and holder comprising two sections to fit below the rail base having hooks at their remote portions for engaging over the edges of the rail base and having interengageable means at their adjacent portions to interlock by a relative longitudinal movement of the sections, one section having webs at its ends and the ends of the hook of said section, said hook having ratchet teeth at its angle, a longitudinal bar fitting snugly within said hook and having ratchet teeth at its opposite edges, to engage the aforesaid ratchet teeth and one edge of the rail base, said webs, section and bar having a bore drilled therein, and pins fitting in said bores to hold said bar in place.

2. A rail clamp and holder comprising two sections to fit below the rail base having hooks at their remote portions for engaging over the edges of the rail base, and having interengageable means at their adjacent portions to interlock by a relative longitudinal movement of the sections, one section being relatively wide and the other relatively narrow, the relatively wide section having a longitudinal channel provided with reduced ends, the relatively wide section having ratchet teeth along the sides of the channel, a strip seated in said channel and having reduced ends fitting the reduced ends of the channel, the side edges of the strip having ratchet teeth engaging the aforesaid ratchet teeth, said strip having upstanding spurs to engage the rail base, the relatively wide section and strip having bores drilled therein at the ends of said section, and pins fitting in said bores.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PAUL MAYDA. lVitnesses:

C. C. TRADER, P. J. SHIOHEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by eddressingthe Commissioner at Patentl, Washington, D. G. 

